1) Why would compliance buyouts/lower cap hurt the Penguins any more than it would hurt the Penguins more than other teams? Is the thought that other teams big-money contracts are worth buying out and ours are not? Last I checked we had a handful of cap space.

2) I thought contracts would roll back at a rate similar to the decreased cap? Those players would give their salaries to escrow but be compensated through the make-whole provisions. If so, how would the Penguins be in that bad of shape?

1) Why would compliance buyouts/lower cap hurt the Penguins any more than it would hurt the Penguins more than other teams? Is the thought that other teams big-money contracts are worth buying out and ours are not? Last I checked we had a handful of cap space.

2) I thought contracts would roll back at a rate similar to the decreased cap? Those players would give their salaries to escrow but be compensated through the make-whole provisions. If so, how would the Penguins be in that bad of shape?

There are no rollbacks. Contracts stay as they are.

The pens will have about 23 million tied up in 3 forwards - and none of them will be buyout candidates. That's probably a bit unusual around the league.

1) Why would compliance buyouts/lower cap hurt the Penguins any more than it would hurt the Penguins more than other teams? Is the thought that other teams big-money contracts are worth buying out and ours are not? Last I checked we had a handful of cap space.

2) I thought contracts would roll back at a rate similar to the decreased cap? Those players would give their salaries to escrow but be compensated through the make-whole provisions. If so, how would the Penguins be in that bad of shape?

The problem for the pens is that they are one of a handful of teams that will be up near the theoretical cap ($55mil with a $60ish mil cap next season) over the next couple years with a large number of roster openings (5-8 open roster spots next season) [see http://www.capgeek.com/penguins/]. Combine that with the fact that the majority of the other teams near the cap are able to do so while still bringing in larger profits than the pens and therefore able to better afford player buyouts [see http://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/#p ... asc_search:]. With that you have a 2 part system that negatively effects the pens more than most other contending teams in the next few years. If you want to look at a team that may be in the worst position however, take a look at TB's roster structure next season and operating costs.

Kunitz isn't a horrible value at $3.7MM, but if you look for places to cut I would start here. If he were injured going into the playoffs, the Pens would suffer. However, I think players of his caliber are available at the deadline as rentals, or can be found cheaper. I'm not trying to bash CK, but if someone has to be cut I think that's where I'd start.

I'd also say the fact that I think CK has the worst contract on the Pens is one heck of a testament to how good of a job GMRS has done.

pressure=9Pa wrote:Kunitz isn't a horrible value at $3.7MM, but if you look for places to cut I would start here. If he were injured going into the playoffs, the Pens would suffer. However, I think players of his caliber are available at the deadline as rentals, or can be found cheaper. I'm not trying to bash CK, but if someone has to be cut I think that's where I'd start.

I'd also say the fact that I think CK has the worst contract on the Pens is one heck of a testament to how good of a job GMRS has done.

They are not going to ditch Kunitz at the contract he has. At some point, Tangradi, Bennett, etc are going to have to step up. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the Pens trade Kris Letang in the future. With Morrow and Despres coming up, it could be a luxury they could use to get another winger.

1) Why would compliance buyouts/lower cap hurt the Penguins any more than it would hurt the Penguins more than other teams? Is the thought that other teams big-money contracts are worth buying out and ours are not? Last I checked we had a handful of cap space.

2) I thought contracts would roll back at a rate similar to the decreased cap? Those players would give their salaries to escrow but be compensated through the make-whole provisions. If so, how would the Penguins be in that bad of shape?

The problem for the pens is that they are one of a handful of teams that will be up near the theoretical cap ($55mil with a $60ish mil cap next season) over the next couple years with a large number of roster openings (5-8 open roster spots next season) [see http://www.capgeek.com/penguins/]. Combine that with the fact that the majority of the other teams near the cap are able to do so while still bringing in larger profits than the pens and therefore able to better afford player buyouts [see http://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/#p ... asc_search:]. With that you have a 2 part system that negatively effects the pens more than most other contending teams in the next few years. If you want to look at a team that may be in the worst position however, take a look at TB's roster structure next season and operating costs.

Nice post

And IMO there is no reason for the Pens to be looking at buying out Kunitz. I dont know who you can get for cheaper that would be as effective as Kunitz is. 25 goals and creates a lot of space for whichever world class center he plays with. I mean the Flyers just signed Voracek for 4.25 , Wayne Simmonds for 3.9, I mean Troy Brouwer, he sucks, and he makes 3.6 million.

1) Why would compliance buyouts/lower cap hurt the Penguins any more than it would hurt the Penguins more than other teams? Is the thought that other teams big-money contracts are worth buying out and ours are not? Last I checked we had a handful of cap space.

2) I thought contracts would roll back at a rate similar to the decreased cap? Those players would give their salaries to escrow but be compensated through the make-whole provisions. If so, how would the Penguins be in that bad of shape?

The problem for the pens is that they are one of a handful of teams that will be up near the theoretical cap ($55mil with a $60ish mil cap next season) over the next couple years with a large number of roster openings (5-8 open roster spots next season) [see http://www.capgeek.com/penguins/]. Combine that with the fact that the majority of the other teams near the cap are able to do so while still bringing in larger profits than the pens and therefore able to better afford player buyouts [see http://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/#p ... asc_search:]. With that you have a 2 part system that negatively effects the pens more than most other contending teams in the next few years. If you want to look at a team that may be in the worst position however, take a look at TB's roster structure next season and operating costs.

Nice post :thumb:

And IMO there is no reason for the Pens to be looking at buying out Kunitz. I dont know who you can get for cheaper that would be as effective as Kunitz is. 25 goals and creates a lot of space for whichever world class center he plays with. I mean the Flyers just signed Voracek for 4.25 , Wayne Simmonds for 3.9, I mean Troy Brouwer, he sucks, and he makes 3.6 million.

It wouldnt be a hockey move, it would be a cap compliance move. It doesn matter what value his contract brings, it matters what value it brings relative to the more expensive ones. More expensive: fleury, crosby, malkin, neal, orpik, martin. Including kunitz, which 2 of those would be missed the least?